Locking-switch



NITED STATES n EDSON O. SESSIONS, OF CHICAG, ILLINOIS. I

LOCKING-SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern i Be it known that I, EDsoN 0. SEssroiis, a citizen of the United States, resldmg at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of- Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement 1n Locking-Switches,

' of which the following is a` speciiicatlon.'

My invention relates to an improved con-` `alternating current circuits of high tension and high amperage as for example in generating stations and it is frequently necessary to mount switches .of this kind on a wall or switchboard at a considerable height above the floor in locations where a wall of the building or a partition is so near the switch as to afford only suiiicient room for the opening thereof. In such cases the operatonmust stand nearly below the switch device and the operating tool ,used to open and closethe switch can assume no other than practically a vertical position, it being impossible under such conditions tostand at a distance sidewise from the switch to exert force in a lateral direction to move the free end thereof in opening 4and' closing the switch. .My invention provides a construction of locking mechanism adapted for use under such conditions characterized by securing -a bracket or housing tothe switch blade at or near its free end, which bracket or housing is offset sufficiently from\ the switch blade sothat when an operating tool is inserted through openings formed in the housing to receive it and a thrust is'exerte'd on the operating toolsubstantially parallel with the switch lblade, in its closed position,

a lateral component of said thrust is eX- erted onthe switch sufficient to readilv open the same.' Furthermore the locking devices employed and the openings in the housing are so conformed that said thrust on the operating tool positively operates the locking mechanism to-release the switch blade.

Similarly when the Iswitch is being closed the construction referred to results in im arting to the housing and switch blade sufgcient lateral force for an upward motion r of the operating tool in a nearly vertical l Specification of -Letters Patent.

direction, to positively close the switch and4 Patented'Ju'ly15f, 19919.

`Application filed September 6., 1917. SeralNo.1S9,922.

engage the locking mechanism so asto positively hold the switch inits closed position. My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanyingA drawings' showing a preferred embodiment thereof, in

which- A Y Figure 1 shows one of 'my improved switching. mechanisms in side elevation mounted for use, L

Fig. 2 isa frot`-elevation 'of the switch'- ing mechanism shown Fig;V 1,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectionalV view ofthe locking mechanism employed in connection with the switching mechanism lshown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of an operating tool for use with the switching mecha nism.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Fig, 1 the switching mecha nism consists of a metal base 10 which carries a 'clamp at either end for supporting the insulators 11 and 12. The base is provided with clamps for engaging rods o-r pipes. 13 and 14 to support the switching mechanism. The insulator 12 has rigidly secured to its outer end a pivot clip 15 and the insulator 11 has rigidly secured to its outer end a Contact clip 16. The pivot clip l5 has pivotally secured thereto a switch blade 17, the pivot and contact clips being so disposed upon their insulators that the switch blade properly engages the contact clip when the switch is closed. The switch blade carries at or'near its free end a lock housing'18 from which a locking latch 19 projects to engage a catch 2O mounted 'adjacent the contact clip 16, said engagement serving tovhold the switch blade positively in its closed position.

VAs shown in Fig. 3 the latch 19 is pivotally supported in the housing 18 at 21 and has rigidly secured thereto an operating level' 22 extending to the left hand insaid housing and overlapping the openings 23 formed through the housing to receive an operating tool, which may vbe of the construction shown in Fig. 4 consisting of an insulating handle 24 which carries at its upper end a bent metal rod 25 having at its upper end an enlarged pointed head V26 facilitating inserting the tool through the openings 23.

It will be observed that the housing 18 is considerably Vodset from thel center line of thev switch bladey 17 andA that the openings 23 are disposed wholly to the left of said `center line as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, said I.openings extending upwardly to the .right and downwardly tothe left at an angle of substantially L15 degrees to said center line.

open position.

A compression spring 27 is disposed between the latch 19 and a web in the housing which tends to Vhold said latch in its locking position. i

r1`he purpose ofthe odset construction re- :Eerred to is as follows:

llVhen the switching mechanism is mounted in locations for which 'it is' particularly designed, asfor example in narrow pasoperator standing on the floor Q9 finds it impossible to place the operating tool 24 in any other than a nearly vertical position when engaging the openings 23 to operate ythe locking mechanism and open the switch. The inclined sides of the openings 23 referred to direct the bent end 25 of the operating tool downwardly to the left into en-y gagement with the lever 22 of the locking mechanism for which condition a downward pull on the operating` tool moves the latch 19 to its releasing position. I`he offset construction ef' the housing 18 results in separating the operating tool 24. some distance laterally from the switch blade 17 thus exerting upon the upper end of the switch blade a corresponding lateral thrust when the downward thrust on the operating' tool is continued, this lateral component being sufhcieiit to move the switch blade 17 from engagement with the contact clip 1G. 'Under the conditions described it is practically impossible for 'he operator to exert other than a substantial wertical pull in a downward direction upon the housing 18 and were the housing not offset as described the releasing of `the locking mechanism could hardly be" eifected and it would' bc practically impossible particularly with switches of considerable size to exert a sufficient lateral thrust on the free end of the switch blade to open the switch. It will, of course, be understood that the amount of the offset of the housing 18 from the center line of' the switch blade is determined by the amount of lateral force required to open and close the switch and that I do not limit myself to any particular amount of offset. In closing the switch an upward thrust on the operating tool in a nearly vertical direction produces an upward thrust on the web 80 formed across the upper end of the openings :23, which thrust as a result of the lateral displacement of the operating tool from the switch blade due to the offset referred to, exerts a sufficient lateral thrust on the free end of the s'witcli blade to positively move the switch 'blade into engagement with the contact clip i vand bring the latch 19 into locking engageploy equivalents thereof known to the ait at the time of the filing of this application,

withoutdeparting from the scope of the appended claims. .l

What I claim is: a 1. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, acontact 'clip, a switch/blade pivotally connected to'saidpivot clip and engaging said contact clip when the switch is closed, a housing carried bythe end of said switch blade andV rprojecting 'laterally from the outerv edge of the switch blade, .a

.latch contained in said housing and pivotally mounted therein, said latch having a hook projecting from the inner edge of said housing, said housing having oblique openings through its opposite walls for receiving an operating tool, a fixed catch for enga-ging said hook when the switch blade is closed, and a lever contained in said housing for operating said latch, said lever overlapping said openings to be engaged and operated by said tool.v

2.V In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivotally connected with the pivot clip and enga-ging the, contact clip when the switch is closed, a bracket carried by the switch blade, said bracket having an offset portion projecting beyond one ledge of the switch blade, said bracket having an'opening in said odset portion :for receiving an operating tool,

lthe edge of said opening engaged by said tool being oblique to the axis of the switch blade, a latch pivoted to said bracket and having an extension overlapping said opening, and a catch for engaging said latch' when the switch is closed, whereby the operating tool is displaced laterally from the switch blade in the direction of the opening movement to produce a lateral thrust on the switch blade when the operator is beneath said switch and said switch is vertically disposed.

3. In a locking switch, the combination of. a. pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivotally 'connected with the pivot clip and engaging the contact clip when the switch is closed, a bracket carried by the switch blade, said bracket having an offset portion projecting beyond one edge of theswitch blade, said `bracket having an opening in said offset portion for receiving an operating tool, the

edge of said opening engaged by said tool.

being oblique to the axis of the switch blade,

and mechanism for locking said switch its closed position,`said locking mechanism vriverlov ` lappingthe opening in said bracket, where by a pull on the operating tool when in said opening and substantially parallel with said switch blade releases said llocking mechanismv and produces a lateral thrust lonlsaid switch blade. A i

4. In a locking switclnth'e cor'rilbi-I-lation of.

a pivot clip, a contact clip,` a switch blade pivotally'connected with the pivot clip.v and engaging the contact clip when the switch is closed', a. bracket carried, by .the-switch. blade, said bracket having an lolset portion projecting beyond one edge of thevswitch blade, said bracket having an opening in said offset portion for receiving an operating tool, a latch pivoted to said bracket and having an extension overlapping-'saidA opening, and a catch for engaging said latch when the switch is` closed, whereby the operating tool I produce alateral thrust on the'switch blade isv displaced laterally from the`switch blade in the direction of its opening movement to when the operator isbeneath said switch and y said switch is vertical-ly disposed.

5. In a locking switch,K the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivotally connected with the pivotclipa'nd engaging the-contact `clip whenthe switch is said bracket having an opening in. said offset portion'for receiving an operating tool, and mechanism for locking said switch mvits closed position,v said locking mechanism 'i overlapping the openingin said bracket, whereby a pull on'the operating tool when in said opening and substantiallyv parallel with said switch blade releases said locking l mechanism and produces a lateral thrust onl said switch blader In witness whereof,

Ax D. 1917. i

1 ansono.` sessions.

I hereunto*A subscribe name-this twenty-,iifth day oAugust, 

